Skift Take

Tourism’s strain on natural resources is a growing problem that can no longer be placated by building water pipes. Sustainable initiatives on the local and global level are needed to ensure tourism’s growth worldwide.

Demand for its raw and tap water will rise about 4 percent annually from 2014 to 2017, Eastern Water Executive Vice President Jaroensuk Worapansopak told an investor meeting today in Bangkok. The company is also studying a 6 billion-baht pipeline project to supply water from a reservoir in Surat Thani province to resort areas in Phuket and Krabi, he said.

Eastern Water has boosted earnings from water sales as demand climbs from manufacturers such as PTT Pcl and Siam Cement Pcl in Rayong province, the nation’s biggest industrial center. Rising tourism visits to Pattaya beach resort in Chon Buri has also increased sales of water, according to Jaroensuk.

Editors: Randall Hackley and Tony Barrett.

To contact the reporter on this story: Anuchit Nguyen in Bangkok at anguyen@bloomberg.net. To contact the editor responsible for this story: Randall Hackley at rhackley@bloomberg.net.